Bright & Light

Southern Living, Spring 2004 by Hamilton, Majella Chube

With a leap of faith and some fresh ideas, this couple opened up the possibilities in their Louisiana home.

Have the words "home improvement" or "renovation" crossed your mind lately? If so, here's good news-it is feasible for any homeowner to take the best features of an older home with good structural design and give them renewed energy. On the banks of Bayou St. John, in the heart of the Big Easy, Michelle and Roy Rodney, Jr., have done just that. Their home has become a picturesque setting in which family and friends gather for casual conversation as well as special occasions.

Focus on the Strengths

Guests almost always gravitate to a wide, open space, especially one with a striking focal point. The panoramic picture window in the Rodney residence, which offers a stunning view of the pool and waterway beyond, serves as a natural backdrop for a central, multifunctional family room. "By its very design, the home brings people together to a wonderful gathering place," says interior designer Denise Felton St. Etienne. "Roy and Michelle could visualize the potential of its best feature-a family room with a great view."

"In the fifties and sixties, they designed every room with good reason," Roy explains. "In our home, you are never without a view in almost any room. We recognized that vision early on as the structure's best strength and decided to enhance what was already here."

Michelle agrees, "Our goal was to make the view the focus of our day-to-day family life. It's beautiful and peaceful indoors and out, and we are able to enjoy it year-round."

Enhancing Architectural Features

In addition to a picture window, the home's most prominent space has other unique characteristics. "First and foremost, the home has wonderful architectural details," Denise notes. "I love the permanence of the geometric shape in its overall layout-it was built during a time when such designs were popular. Even the windows have a distinct pattern."

Another extraordinary feature is the family room's angled ceiling that fans out to the large picture window. This design makes the room seem larger than its actual dimensions.

"We wanted to keep as much of the architectural style as possible," Michelle explains. "For example, we left the acoustic tiles on the ceiling that were original to the house. They are important in order to balance sound and minimize the echo."

Furniture Groupings

"The family room seems so large due to its design that it tends to expand one's perception of space," Denise adds. "Therefore, we felt the furnishings should be large, and we were able to make use of a sofa and chairs the couple already had."

In the family room, several gathering areas were created so that activities can take place simultaneously. It's a flowing space, equipped for small and large get-togethers. Michelle notes that after trying different options, they realized that several groupings could be altered quite easily as the need arises.

A Space That's Individual

Denise says that the couple was interested in creating a different interior look from the start. Prominent details and metallic colors continue the modern theme with a romantic, retro flair. "We incorporated hues and various textures of copper to complement the neutral appearance of the blacks and whites," Denise says.

Walls are covered in a textured taupe shade, and hardwood flooring is enhanced by a wool rug reflecting the artwork by modern artist Gustav Klimt. Subtle silk fabric panels, pooled to form bishop sleeves, frame the enormous picture window.

"I wanted curtains, but Roy didn't want anything to interfere with the view," Michelle says. "We compromised and went with a suggestion from Denise: simple panels draped on each side."

"A well-appointed room is taken to another level when a window treatment is included," Denise adds. "We installed a single panel with an embroidered tape as trim."

Patio and Pool Restoration

The slate-tile courtyard patio was laid in the late 1950s. However, some tiles were broken, and there were signs of sinkage, so Roy and Michelle decided to replace it with a new decking material. "It is colored cement that provides a cool surface," Michelle explains. "Laid with a technique to give it texture, the free-formed veins are troweled by hand before the cement dries completely."

The pool had been filled in with dirt before the Rodneys bought the house. Seeds from the surrounding grass migrated, and a lawn had grown in. All of the coping stones around the pool were broken away as well.

The couple worked with a company to restore the pool, beginning with the removal of the grass and dirt. After finding no cracks, they re-plastered the surface in a cool shade of Mediterranean gray.